Golf (W) News

K-State Posts Another Solid Round

K-State Posts Another Solid Round

LUBBOCK, Texas The K-State women’s golf team turned in another solid round at the Big 12 Championship on Saturday, matching its first round score of 311. The Wildcats, who have three individuals in the top-20, are currently sitting in a tie for fourth place after carding a 38-over 311-311622 through two rounds at the Rawls Course in Lubbock, Texas.

“I am proud of the kids for the most part,” head coach Kristi Knight said. “We are tied for fourth and one shot out of third. No women’s team at K-State has ever played in the lead group in the Big 12 Championship and we still haven’t played our best here. I think our best golf is ahead of us.”

First-placeOklahomaState saw its margin for first place drop slightly in day two, as Texas A&M gained three strokes on the Cowgirls on Saturday. OSU has carded a 295-302597 (+13) through two rounds and is still placing three individuals in the top-5, while the Aggies sit at 304-299603 (+19). Oklahoma moved up from fifth place to third in the second round and lead the three-team cluster of Kansas, K-State and Colorado by one stroke at 37-over par.

Ashley Freeman of Texas A&M and Caroline Hedwall are currently locked in a tie for first place, both carding scores at 1-under par. Nebraska’s Charlotte Wender is now tied with Amanda Johnson and Pernilla Lindberg of OklahomaState for third place and all are three strokes out of the lead.

Morgan Moon and Elise Houtz, who are tied for 11th place, are setting the pace for the Wildcats through two rounds. Houtz tied her career-low round of 73 in round two and climbed all the way from 28th place on Saturday and cards a 80-73153 (+7) for the tournament. Houtz’s round-two score was tied for the lowest 18-hole score on Saturday. Moon, carding a 72-81153, will look to bounce back from a 7-over in the second round.

“Morgan was frustrated with her round today,” Knight said. “She hit a lot of good shots, but she didn’t make the putts that she was making yesterday. Her putter wasn’t working today, but she held in there and battled.”

“Elise had a really solid round,” Knight said. “If you could be a little disappointed with a par round, then she probably was because she didn’t really have her puts falling for her. She had some nice par saves, but she felt like she missed a lot of good birdie opportunities. She is hitting the ball well and making good decisions, so she will have those opportunities again tomorrow.”

Paige Osterloo was able to shave two strokes off her first round score and is currently tied with teammate Abbi Sunner for 45th place.

The Wildcats will conclude the Big 12 Championship with the third and final round starting at 8 a.m. tomorrow. Live stats are available at www.golfstat.com and final tournament results will be posted on www.kstatesports.com as soon as they become available.